Their sails, their rudders are simply no match for the huge, powerful swells and gale-force winds, up to 40 knots.

"It's pretty full on, these big boats. In those conditions they feel like they are 200-feet long, not 100-feet long. There's a lot going on; the loads are huge. It's very, very windy. We had very heavy rain. It was hard to see," says Richards.

Early race leader Comanche also withdrew, only to announce that crews would try to repair a broken rudder and dagger board and continue the race.

It proved the right decision, with the American boat catching Rambler 88, skippered by New Zealander Butterworth. It's expected they will both cross the finish line tomorrow.

"The fact we are going through hard conditions is what makes this race the race that it is," says John Cameron from Cruising Yacht Club Commodore.

"And it wouldn't be the best race in the world without conditions to test everybody, to test the people, to test the boats and test the conditions and make the best of it."

And it was tough conditions for the spectator boats too. A small boat with former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles on board started sinking and to the rescue were several nudist sunbathers.